Biomedical subjects
R J Erickson
Publications and source records attributed to R J Erickson.
Isolation and characterization of a polynucleotide phosphorylase from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens BaM-2 produces large amounts of extracellular enzymes, and the synthesis of these proteins appears to be dependent upon abnormal ribonucleic acid metabolism. A polynucleotide phosphorylase (nucleoside diphosphate:polynucleotide nucleotidyl transferase) was identified, purified, and characterized from this strain. The purification scheme involved cell disruption, phase partitioning, differential (NH4)2SO4 solubilities, agarose gel filtration, and diethylaminoethyl-Sephadex chromatography. The purified enzyme demonstrated the reactions characteristic of polynucleotide phosphorylase: polymerization, phosphorolysis, and inorganic phosphate exchange with the beta-phosphate of a nucleotide diphosphate. The enzyme was apparently primer independent and required a divalent cation. The reactions for the synthesis of the homopolyribonucleotides, (A)n and (G)n, were optimized with respect to pH and divalent cation concentration. The enzyme is sensitive to inhibition by phosphate ion and heparin and is partially inhibited by rifamycin SV and synthetic polynucleotides.
Cellulosic substrates for enzymatic saccharification.
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The binding of polynucleotides to the DNA polymerase of avian myeloblastosis virus.
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Inhibition of vesicular stomatitis virus replication by poly(2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridylic acid).
Poly(2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridylic acid) is known to be an effective inhibitor of the deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase found within the oncornaviruses. This synthetic polynucleotide was found to inhibit the replication of vesicular stomatitis virus in mouse L cells. The polymer was shown to be capable of inhibiting the viral ribonucleic acid (RNA)-dependent RNA polymerase, and it is proposed that this is the mechanism of antiviral activity. The following observations support this viewpoint: (i) the polymer is most active when added after virus adsorption; (ii) the antiviral activity is not species specific; and (iii) the polynucleotide is nontoxic to the host cell. Conventional methodologies designed to increase nucleic acid uptake by cultured cells do not show an increase in antiviral potency.